NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

[Adieu]

Black Friday can be pretty cool after all... but only online, and a week in advance. Check out what $419 got me!!

ESP Eclipse, Floyd Rose, EMG's (81-85 i think), st00pid 18v mod (reversed in a heartbeat).... was in DESPERATE need of a some decent strings & a setup, but now plays pretty nice.

 

[DankStar]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Cool - where'd you score that, Home slice?!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

that is an amazing price for an actual esp.

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

online order from Guitar Center Fresno (sticker 650 + online discount)... GC had a couple nicer ESP's in the 550-700 range, but hey, price matters too.

I think she fell that low for being horribly set up & being a postergirl for a case of 18v-mod-unagreeble-ness, and thus kinda unlikely to be bought in person, especially w/o the online discount... BTW, that makes the second time I open up an LP-type that sounds off with EMGs, and find an 18v mod inside...coincidence?!

 

[Kac]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Badass. Looks awesome!


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[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Badass. Looks awesome!


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Needs a pickup swap (m/b just the neck pup) or smthn, though... Or perhaps a heavier tremblock. That fast ESP neck is awesome, but between the floyd, the lighter weight, and the EMGs - it just doesn't get that crushing "up to 11" tone of my maple custom w/ single bridge super 70. (although it IS dead quiet, which is kinda cool)

But the fact that it doesnt quite get as angry as the old girl is just SUPER annoying. Might end up having to drop a Super 70 into the ESP, despite all the work that entails (might even require some routing).

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

I wouldn't bother messing with electronics if you just want to restore the roar, pull the emg and get a blackout bridge...much more roar and output....

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

True... Or maybe Livewires? JB passive is pretty nast itself, kinda suspecting that the active version is one of the pickup market's best kept secrets...

Damn, it sure is a pity that I'm about 90% sure that thing has hardsoldered EMGs without quickconnects on the pup bottoms, that woulda made things soooo much easier.

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Oh well, first things first: those fugly flimsy-looking knobs just HAD to go... Looks waaaay sleeker with speedknobs now. Almost sounds meaner too, in that old "da red ones goez fasta!" way

 

[bloodswords]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Nice score. I believe this is one of those rare ESPs which was still on a bolt-on make, coming from the Custom Shop floor.

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Nice score. I believe this is one of those rare ESPs which was still on a bolt-on make, coming from the Custom Shop floor.

What's the whole Custom Shop story about, anyway? Heard it before, but what does that really mean? Handmade luthier work vs. CNC stuff?

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Great price indeed. I wish they didn't have the model name inlaid at the 12th fret - bit of cheese.

I like the 70s beast, maple fingerboard and black inlays give it a unique look.

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Great price indeed. I wish they didn't have the model name inlaid at the 12th fret - bit of cheese.

I like the 70s beast, maple fingerboard and black inlays give it a unique look.

Manufacturer name, actually... Model name is on LTDs.

Yeah, I do kinda wish ESP did those neck aesthetics a little differently though... Like that blonde maple/black inlay thing, for example, actually oh well, at least the profile plays plenty nice...

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Very nice score! I've never seen small dot inlays on the Eclipses before. Usually they have the "flag" inlays. Killer deal though, I'd've snagged it too!! Congrats:14:

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Very nice score! I've never seen small dot inlays on the Eclipses before. Usually they have the "flag" inlays. Killer deal though, I'd've snagged it too!! Congrats:14:

90s model, 1st generation... Dots, single bound neck/fb/headstock, bolton, untopped body.

The ones with flags which look like LTD deluxes with slightly toned down bling are Eclipse II's. Since after they introduced LTDs, ESP tried to do the whole special-order-only thing for the US, pulling the standards from shop floors, few in America know of the Eclipse I and "the Eclipse" model versions. There was even a pretty cool hollowbody version, too (just missed one for 500 in LA in october).

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

90s model, 1st generation... Dots, single bound neck/fb/headstock, bolton, untopped body.

The ones with flags which look like LTD deluxes with slightly toned down bling are Eclipse II's. Since after they introduced LTDs, ESP tried to do the whole special-order-only thing for the US, pulling the standards from shop floors, few in America know of the Eclipse I and "the Eclipse" model versions. There was even a pretty cool hollowbody version, too (just missed one for 500 in LA in october).

Oh yeah duh, I knew the Flag inlays were on the Eclipse II's. I actually like yours better, you can't go wrong with dots. I'm more comfortable with dot inlays from all the years playing Fender.

That's funny about the 18v mod, I did a 27v mod on a m300fm LTD and it sounded just like the stock sound and just like the two 9volts as well.:lmao: It's like, what's the point? :sad:

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Very nice score! I've never seen small dot inlays on the Eclipses before. Usually they have the "flag" inlays. Killer deal though, I'd've snagged it too!! Congrats:14:

PS when I looked, GC online had 2 more for 550-600ish i think, as well as one SWEET maple fb single hummer ESP Mirage (600 bucks was a bit much for my budget that day tho)...so when one of em got hit with GC's random 35% internet discount for a couple days, I jumped on it

Another one was erroneously listed as "esp ltd", and another similar looking - possibly japanese! - early first/second year LTD was listed as ESP, though @ 200 bucks I'm 90% sure its LTD (no headstock in pic, figures)... Oh well, since it was a birthday gift to myself, I didnt wanna take the risk, despite them being 100% returnable until like Jan 31 (holiday promo - extended returns on used gear too).

If interested, search for "used esp" (NOT "esp" in used gear, dunno why...st00pid GC), sort by price & look closely in the 400-600 dollar range

 

[Adieu]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Oh yeah duh, I knew the Flag inlays were on the Eclipse II's. I actually like yours better, you can't go wrong with dots. I'm more comfortable with dot inlays from all the years playing Fender.

That's funny about the 18v mod, I did a 27v mod on a m300fm LTD and it sounded just like the stock sound and just like the two 9volts as well.:lmao: It's like, what's the point? :sad:

Nope, 18 volt mod REALLY changed things here --- but for a very Line6'd sound... Quite the tonal bludgeoning for those that dig that kinda thing, but the 81 lost its "crunchiness" i guess I'd call it and went heavy-bland, while the 85 (think thats whats in there?) got all weird and kinda boomy

Still contemplating going Livewire or Blackouts (confused tho, do I want 1s 2s 3s a mix thereof or what?), though that decision will wait another half day until the bloody weekend finally ends, neighbours piss off to school work or wherever, and I can finally blast her through 120w 6x12 @ more than 1% volume...wanna see what 9v, good DR DDT 11-54s, and a proper setup did for its tone first!

PS emg themselves say 27v will do nothing over 18v...and users add that messing up polarity with that will additionally be far more likely to fry stuff, even on 6 strings (emg 7s are anecdotally reputed to be far more vulnerable to voltage screwups). In other words, 27v = useless mod w/ unneeded risks.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

That's my favorite ESP era actually, wish I could find a bolt on EX. Nice score.

I think you're the guy that will like the 85 in the bridge position, make sure you try that ****.

The original Eclipses weren't supposed to be LP's, they were supposed to be shred sticks that looked like LP's, and it has a floyd. The 85 will help, but you won't get it to thump like an LP.

Wacky LP copy BTW, that's cool.

 

[sixstringsamurai333]

Re: NGD: ESP Eclipse I, FR, EMG

Congrats! An even cooler score now that the ESP Standard Series no longer exists.